Change In A Star's Alignment

Chapter 10:

It had been a week since Narcissa had arrived at Hogwarts and Harry thought there was something wrong. He noticed how Malfoy wasn't being his usual self. I thought he'd be happy since he and Narcissa are now safe. What is going on? Harry started paying extra attention to the blonde.

He saw how Malfoy would hardly eat and looked paler than normal. Harry watched as Zabini sat beside Malfoy, putting his hand on the blonde's shoulder as he sat. He saw how Malfoy seemed to flinch at the touch, only to relax slightly when he realized who it was. He's so jumpy. Harry thought. It's like he's afraid of something... But what? Harry thought about what the blonde could be afraid of, but eventually gave up in frustration.

He looked up to see that Malfoy had left the Great Hall. Determined, Harry got up from his seat beside Hermione and walked towards the Slytherin table. If anyone knows what's wrong with Malfoy, it's him.

"Zabini." Harry said.

Zabini looked up in surprise before saying, "Potter? What are you doing here?"

"Could we talk? It's important."

Zabini stared long and hard at Harry. He's probably trying to figure out if I'm up to something... Finally, he responded. "Sure Potter. Lead the way."

Harry let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. He then turned around and left the Great Hall, looking back to see Zabini following close behind. Harry walked out the large castle doors and sat on a nearby bench. Behind the bench was a large hedge with scented flowers sprouting from it. Directly in front of Harry was a small flower garden that Harry had somehow never seen before.

Odd...he thought, You'd have thought I'd remember those since I've walked out those doors plenty of times before... Harry was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of Zabini stopping. Zabini seemed to hesitate for a moment but then sat next to him.

The two boys sat for a while in silence, staring at flower garden in front of them, neither knowing how to start the conversation. After what seemed like ages, Zabini broke the awkward silence. "What did you need to talk about Potter?"

"It's Malfoy." Harry answered, relieved that he didn't have to start the conversation. (He never was very good at getting his thoughts out and often needed people like Hermione to prompt him).

Zabini immediately tensed, going on the defense now that his best friend was involved. "What about him?"

"I'm worried about him, Zabini!" Harry blurted.

"You're... You're worried about Draco?" Zabini asked, sounding thoroughly confused.

"Yes! Aren't you? He's hardly eating, he's way too pale, and for goodness sakes, he flinched when you simply touched his shoulder! He doesn't even seem happy that Narcissa is back!" Harry ranted, getting angrier and more frustrated as he went.

"Look, just calm down Potter." Zabini started, "I'm worried too, and I just was surprised that you would care so much about him."

Harry sighed. He took a couple of deep breaths to try to get rid of all his frustrations. "I'm sorry I went off on you, it's just that I'm worried, you know?"

"I know, it's okay Potter, I get it."

"So you don't know what's going on?" Harry asked.

"No, I don't. I'm worried about him too, but he won't talk to me about it..." Zabini said tiredly. "I have to get back to the Great Hall... I'm sorry I couldn't help you much... See you around Potter."

"See you Zabini." Harry said as Zabini got up from the bench and walked back towards the castle doors.

Harry was about to get up and leave when he saw blonde hair down by the black lake. Harry quickly got up from the bench and went across the grounds. Finally, he was standing right behind Malfoy. From this close, Harry could truly see how pale and thin the blonde looked. When Harry made some noise to alert Malfoy of his presence, the blonde instantly tensed up and turned towards Harry. He could now see that the blonde had huge purple bags under his eyes. He must not be sleeping at all, Harry thought.

"Potter." Malfoy acknowledged. Harry watched, confused, as Malfoy got up and started walking away from him.

Harry grabbed the blonde's arm to stop him from leaving but rushed to let it go when Malfoy flinched. "Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"Away from here."

"Why?"

"Because, Potter," Malfoy spat, "I just want to be left alone!"

"What's wrong? Whatever it is, I'm sure it can be handled!" Harry said, desperate to know what was going on.

"It's none of your fucking business Potter!" Malfoy practically yelled, "Now just leave me the fuck alone and stay out of my life!"

Harry took a step back, as if stung. He was hurt by what Malfoy had said. "I just wanted to help." Harry whispered just loud enough for the blonde to hear.

Malfoy almost seemed to think about staying but then turned on his heel and left Harry standing by the lake. All Harry could do was watch as the blonde stormed up to the castle doors and went inside. Malfoy didn't even look back.

Draco's POV:

Draco made it to a hidden alcove before he collapsed to the floor crying. How could I be so stupid? Why didn't I accept his help? Then all of this would have been over! But Draco knew that he would never tell Potter what was going on. In fact, he wouldn't tell anyone what was happening. It would be much too humiliating to tell people. He just wanted it to end. He couldn't take much more, he is so close to breaking completely. This is why, when they found him this time, he didn't even bother trying to stop it. He just let it happen, hoping that this was the end. I just want this to end.

Harry's POV:

After standing at the Black Lake for what felt like hours, Harry decided to go back inside the castle. Once inside, Harry realized that something was really wrong. He heard spells being cast and people laughing. At first, he assumed that it was just some first or second years fooling around. But then Harry heard a muffled sob and he instantly recognized who it belonged to.

Harry ran. He ran as fast as he could, pulling out his wand in the process. When Harry turned the corner, he stopped briefly to take in the scene.

There were about four, no five, people in the secret corridor. Harry recognized all of them. Four of them were Slytherins he had seen around the castle but didn't know the names of. The fifth person, to Harry's astonishment was none other than Ronald Weasley. On the ground was the victim.

Harry looked to the stone floor and saw Malfoy curled in the fetal position, blood oozing from wounds all over his body, but none were worse than the ones on his chest. He also noticed that there were bruises practically covering the cowering boy's body. Harry took all of this in within a few seconds. In those few seconds, Harry became livid. Harry looked to the Weasel and saw a huge smirk on the red head's face which only angered Harry even further.

Harry pointed his wand at his former best friend and yelled, "RONALD WEASELY!" As Weasley turned and saw Harry, the smirk quickly left his face. In the corner of his eye, Harry saw the four Slytherins trying to sneak away undetected. Harry flicked his wand in their direction and they all froze, having been put into a body-bind. He then pointed his wand towards the Weasel again and cast the same body-binding curse on him.

Harry rushed over to Malfoy and knelt beside him. He used basic healing spells he had learned but it only fixed the cuts to his face, arms, and legs. Harry then realized that the cuts to the blonde's chest were probably made by Dark Magic. He understood then that he had no choice. Harry pulled out his want and made his Patronus appear.

Harry then recorded a message. "Snape, Malfoy's hurt really badly, he was attacked and I think they used Dark Magic. Hurry!"

Harry watched as the stag bounded off to find Snape and bring guide him here. Harry tried his hardest to stop the bleeding but no matter what he did, he couldn't stop it. Harry looked down at Malfoy's face and saw he was deathly pale. If it hadn't been for Harry being able to feel the blonde's heartbeat under his hands, he would have thought that Malfoy was dead.

Finally, Snape arrived. Harry saw him pause a moment to look at the Weasel and the Slytherins. Once he saw Malfoy, however, he rushed over and knelt beside Harry. Snape muttered some sort of counter-curse and instantly the wounds stopped bleeding and not long after, the skin sealed itself, leaving scars where the wounds had been. Realizing Malfoy would still have to go to the Hospital Wing, Harry created another Patronus.

"Madame Pomfrey, Draco Malfoy is seriously injured, he'll need blood replenishing potions for sure. He's also been beaten up pretty badly. Please be ready for when Professor Snape and I bring him in. Thank you." The stag rushed the Hospital Wing.

Harry then turned to Snape, saying, "I'm not sure what the best way to transport him is so you might want to do that. Hurry!"

Quickly, Snape levitated Malfoy, being sure not to jostle the blonde and then rushed to the Hospital Wing with Harry close behind. They left the five guilty students in the hidden corridor, still bound by Harry's spell. Neither Harry nor Snape cared, however, since they were both so focused on Malfoy.

When they reached the Hospital Wing, they found the door already open for them and Madame Pomfrey beside a bed with potions in hand. Snape put Malfoy gently down on the bed and helped get the right potions Malfoy would need. Harry stood to the side, not wanting to get in the way and mess something up. His emerald eyes never left the blonde's face.

After a couple of hours, Madame Pomfrey finally sat down with a huff of exhaustion and Snape finally stopped adjusting the potions connected to Malfoy through an I.V.

"Is he going to be okay?" Harry asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, he will be. Lucky you got there when you did because much longer, and he wouldn't have made it." Madame Pomfrey said, "You are welcome to stay as long as you wish, Harry. I'm going to go to bed. If anything changes, an alarm will sound and wake me up."

"Thank you." Harry said quietly.

"He'll be okay Harry." Madame Pomfrey said, placing he hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

Harry gave her a weak smile and then looked back towards Malfoy. Harry noticed the blonde still had some blood in his hair. Harry then looked down at himself and noticed that he was covered in Malfoy's blood. It was all over his hands and clothes. He was torn between staying with Malfoy and getting new clothes and showering.

His thoughts were disrupted however, by Snape's voice. "Potter, could I talk to you?"

"Sure, Sir." Harry replied.

"Could you tell me what happened in that corridor?"

Harry shook his head a little. "I wasn't there for all of it, Sir. So I'm not exactly sure what happened before I came in... But when I got there, I found the four Slytherins and Ronald Weasley there. They were all laughing. When I saw Malfoy, I yelled at Weasley. The others tried to sneak away, but I put them in a full body-bind curse before they could go anywhere. Then I did the same to that Weasel. Then I did some basic healing charms on Malfoy and when they worked on all the cuts except for the ones on his chest, I knew that it must have been Dark Magic so I sent my Patronus to get you, and well… you know the rest of course." Harry said all of this quietly without once looking away from Malfoy.

"That's pretty impressive Mr. Potter." Snape said just as quietly.

Hardly believing what he was hearing, Harry turned to look at Snape. Harry knew that Snape was a spy for Dumbledore and that he had loved Lily, but Snape had still never been particularly nice towards him let alone compliment him.

"Thanks." Harry finally managed to say.

Snape sighed then looked away from Harry when he said the next part. "Look Harry, I've realized I was wrong about you. I... You just look so much like James and I guess I just jumped to the conclusion that you were exactly like him. I was stubborn and I tried my hardest to find James in you... But I can't. All I see now is Lily. Today, you were put in a highly stressful situation and you were calm and knew exactly what to do and you saved Draco's life. Your mother would have been the same Harry. Trust me, I've seen her in action. She would have been proud… But, anyways, today just solidified how much you aren't like your father and so... I'm sorry Harry."

When Snape had finished, Harry was completely dumb-struck. He'd never thought that Snape of all people would apologize to him. But what he'd said about him being like his Mum and her being proud... Harry didn't think Snape would ever truly know how much it meant to him.

"Thank you Sir... That really means a lot." Harry said.

"Yes well, just know that I'm going to have to keep pretending I hate you in class so that Voldemort's followers don't get suspicious."

"I understand, Sir." Harry said. After a long moment of silence, Snape got up to leave. Before he could reach the door, Harry stopped him. "Professor Snape?"

"Yes Harry?" he said, turning back to look at Harry.

Harry hesitated a little before finally deciding to go through with asking him the question. "Would you... maybe... tell me about her sometime? About my Mum?"

Snape looked at Harry and gave him a small smile, the first Harry had ever seen him give. "I'd love to, Harry." With that, he left with his robes billowing behind him, in true Snape fashion.

Once Snape had left, Harry turned back to Malfoy. Remembering how filthy he was, he debated going to have a shower but decided he didn't want to leave Malfoy unless absolutely necessary. So Harry grabbed his wand and scourgified himself clean and then did the same to Malfoy, getting the blood out of the boy's blonde hair. He then proceeded to sit in the chair next to Malfoy's bed, watching the blonde as exhaustion took over and he fell asleep in the chair.